By Elaine Gu
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, The OG, sports

CHAMPAIGN — The Stingrays took fourth place at the Central Invitational on Saturday, moving up one spot from their fifth-place finish there last year.

Last year's meet champion, Mother McAuley, won with 415.5 points. The Mighty Macs dominated the races, winning seven out of 12 events, including all three relays. Host Champaign Central placed second (382), followed by O'Fallon Township (243), Uni (145.5), and Schlarman (133).

Senior Anne Dixon led the Stingrays with a fifth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1 minute, 18.5 seconds. She was followed by teammates freshmen Erika Belmont and Diana Liu, who swam seasonal best times of 1:21.44 and 1:28.41, respectively.

Despite not having anyone place in the top three, the Stingrays recorded 24 individual seasonal bests, and all three relays earned seasonal best times.

The 200 medley of junior Katie Ryan, Belmont, Dixon, and senior Nicole Gong finished in 2:06.4. The 200 freestyle relay of Gong, senior Liz Reese, Dixon, and Ryan recorded a time of 1:52.28. The 400 freestyle relay of senior Krista Olson, freshman Elizabeth Allen, junior Aliisa Rantanen, and Reese had a time of 4:22.25, a seasonal best by more than three seconds.

Eight out of the 10 Uni swimmers in the 100 freestyle had seasonal best performances, and seven out of the 12 swimmers in the 50 freestyle recorded personal bests.

Wednesday's meet at Urbana was canceled because the Urbana pool is still being rebuilt after a fire that occurred there last year. The Stingrays will compete Saturday against Schlarman at Danville.

2006 VARSITY RESULTS (2-0 in dual meets)

Sept. 2: at Stanford Olympia (vs. Stanford Olympia), W 128-38
Top Uni individual swimmers:

— Liz Reese, 50 free, 1st (:28.56)
— Katie Ryan, 100 free, 1st (1:02.62); 200 free, 1st (2:18.16)
— Deborah Ladd, 500 free, 1st (7:15.34)
— Anne Dixon, 100 breast, 1st (1:19.67)
— Nicole Gong, 100 fly, 1st (1:10.59); 200 IM, 1st (2:43.97)
Top Uni relay swimmers:
— Anne Dixon, Nicole Gong, Liz Reese, Katie Ryan, 200 free, 1st (1:57.64)
— Anne Dixon, Krista Olson, Nicole Gong, Liz Reese, 200 medley, 1st (2:13.19)
— Eunice How, Krista Olson, Katie Ryan, Aliisa Rantanen, 400 free, 1st (4:45.36)

Sept. 9: at the University of Chicago (vs. Chicago University High), W 87-81
Top Uni individual swimmers:

— Liz Reese, 50 free, 1st (:27.93)
— Katie Ryan, 200 free, 1st (2:15.84)
— Liz Reese, 500 free, 1st (6:16.12)
— Anne Dixon, 100 breast, 1st (1:17.62)
Top Uni relay swimmers:
— Katie Ryan, Anne Dixon, Nicole Gong, Liz Reese, 200 free, 1st (1:56.11)
— Anne Dixon, Krista Olson, Nicole Gong, Liz Reese, 200 medley, 1st (2:11.89)

Sept. 16: at Champaign Centennial (Charger Invitational, 15 teams), 14th place (11 pts)
Top Uni individual swimmer:
— Anne Dixon, 100 breast, 1 pt (1:17.92)
Top Uni relay swimmers:
— Katie Ryan, Anne Dixon, Nicole Gong, Liz Reese, 200 medley, 8 pts (2:07.06)
— Elizabeth Allen, Maritza Mestre, Aliisa Rantanen, Erika Belmont, 200 free, 2 pts (2:02.38)

Sept. 23: at Eastern Illinois University (Charleston tri-meet), 2nd place (110 pts)
Top Uni individual swimmers:
— Liz Reese, 14 pts overall
— Anne Dixon, 100 breast, 1st (1:19.57), 12 pts
— Katie Ryan, 10 pts

— Nicole Gong, 9 pts
— Krista Olson, 9 pts

Sept. 26: at Danville High School (Danville tri-meet), 3rd place (79 pts)
Top Uni individual swimmers:
— Katie Ryan, 500 free, 2nd (6:10.75), 9 pts overall
— Anne Dixon, 6 pts
Top Uni relay swimmers:
— Erika Belmont, Nicole Gong, Anne Dixon, Liz Reese, 200 medley, 2nd (2:10.58)
— Nicole Gong, Liz Reese, Anne Dixon, Katie Ryan, 200 free, 3rd (1:54.58)

Sept. 30: at Danville High School (Danville quad meet), 3rd place (306 points)
Top Uni individual swimmers:
— Nicole Gong, 100 fly, 3rd (1:08.19); 200 IM, 3rd (2:37.69)
— Katie Ryan, 200 free, 3rd (2:17.06)
— Anne Dixon, 100 breast, 4th (1:18.48)
Top Uni relay swimmers:
— Anne Dixon, Nicole Gong, Liz Reese, Katie Ryan, 200 free, 2nd (1:54.27)

Oct. 7: at Champaign Centennial (Central Invitational, 5 teams), 4th place (145.5 pts)
Top Uni individual swimmer:
— Anne Dixon, 100 breast, 5th (1:18.5)
Top Uni relay swimmers:
— Katie Ryan, Erika Belmont, Anne Dixon, Nicole Gong, 200 medley (2:06.4 — season best)
— Nicole Gong, Liz Reese, Anne Dixon, Katie Ryan, 200 free (1:52.28 — season best)
— Krista Olson, Elizabeth Allen, Aliisa Rantanen, Liz Reese, 400 free (4:22.25 — season best)